Priority registration for the summer term ended June 1, but registration continues on a space-available basis. The online catalog is available at this link.
The next issue of OLLI E-News will be published Friday, June 18. Submissions are due by 6:00 pm, Tuesday, June 15.
From the Desk of the Executive Director: OLLI’s 30-Year Anniversary Teacher-Appreciation Event
By Jennifer Disano, Executive Director
Our annual OLLI Mason teacher-appreciation event (via Zoom) occurred on May 26 during this 30th anniversary of our institute’s founding. The event included remarks by OLLI President Paul Howard and Kathryn Russell of our Program Committee. Also speaking were special guests and OLLI instructors Dr. Peter Stearns, Mason University Professor/Provost Emeritus; John Rybicki, retired pastoral associate at the Riderwood retirement community in Maryland; Ben Gold, long-time docent at the US Supreme Court; and Dr. Linda Apple Monson, Director of Mason’s School of Music.
Dr. Stearns presented a great lecture on the history of pets, and Dr. Monson gave a wonderful piano performance. Fortunately, this event was recorded, and I encourage you to click on this link to share in appreciating OLLI’s terrific volunteer instructors and to enjoy the remarks and presentations by our special guests. You will be glad you did!
In 2021, OLLI celebrates its 30th year of classes for seniors. This feature provides fun facts and interesting milestones about our institute each week that E-News is published throughout the year.
June 4
The open house on September 5, 1996, was held in “the most awful weather imaginable” due to Hurricane Fran. The electricity went on and off, but 100 people attended, and 11 were interested in joining the Learning in Retirement Institute (LRI). (LRI News Oct 96)
Summary of Special OLLI Board of Directors Meeting, May 21
By Marguerite Johnson, Secretary
A special meeting of the OLLI Board of Directors was held May 21, 2021, to review and approve the replacement of the OLLI Board Handbook with the OLLI Policies and Procedures Manual.
Resolution 210521-01 "Resolved, that the Board approve the replacement of the OLLI Handbook with the OLLI Policies and Procedures Manual" passed with a unanimous vote.
Governance Committee chair Lillian Brooks stated that the Policies and Procedures Manual is the bedrock of the organization as it explains who we are and how we operate. This new document is more readable and up to date. Procedures that were unclear or missing have been added. President Paul Howard thanked Lillian and her team including Peter Ansoff, Janet Geffner, and Dick Crawford for all their hard work over the past 15 months.
The new Policies and Procedures Manual can be found on the OLLI website under Main Menu – Documents.
Loudoun and Reston Program Planning Groups to Meet June 8 and June 15
By Shannon Morrow, Program Associate
All OLLI members are welcome to join us for the next Loudoun Program Planning Group meeting on Tuesday, June 8, at 10:00. No experience necessary; we would love to have your ideas. Click this link to join the Zoom meeting on June 8 (meeting ID: 830 4090 2833; passcode 645321). Or dial in at 301-715-8592.
Please also join us on Tuesday, June 15 at 10:00 for the next Reston Program Planning Group meeting. Click here to join the Zoom meeting on June 15 (meeting ID: 846 5570 5699; passcode: 246810). Or dial in at 301-715-8592. Again, your ideas are encouraged.
Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group to Meet June 10
By Michele Romano, M.D., Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group Co-chair
The Science, Technology, and Health Program Planning Group will meet on Thursday, June 10, at 4:00 via Zoom. Please come with your thoughts and ideas for future courses and hear what is in the works for upcoming terms. If you are not presently a member and would like to join the group, we would love to have you. Please email me at tufax2@gmail.com and we will add you to the list. The Zoom link will be sent in a separate email, and it will also appear in the daily schedule email for June 10. We look forward to seeing you.
The Computer Club (OLLI Personal Computer User Group, or OPCUG) will meet with its partner, the Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society (PATACS), on Saturday, June 19 at 1:00 via Zoom.
The History of Technology – Presented by Ray Van Dyke. From humankind’s earliest days, tools were key to survival. From the first days, technology has driven us to new heights, and many cultures have shared in this endeavor. This lecture will explore many of these contributions and showcase the acceleration of technological innovation. Contributions of the Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, and others, through to the critical revolutions of today, will all be discussed in a lively format, placing various inventors in their times.
Ray Van Dyke is an intellectual property/patent practitioner and educator in the Washington area.
Learn in 30: A Space to Work In—or Two or Three – Presented by Tom Gutnick. There's a great productivity feature that seems to be a secret, whether you're working with Windows, MacOS, or Linux. If you only ever do one thing at a time on your computer, you can skip this, but if you're frequently juggling lots of open windows for various projects, here's a way to work more effectively. Virtual desktops (also called spaces or workspaces or virtual displays) allow you to organize related windows into independent compartments, with a few clicks or keystrokes. Tom will show what it can do for you and how to set it up.
PATACS member Tom Gutnick is the owner of Sunny Banana IT Consulting—Technology without the Turmoil, and is an instructor at NOVA Community College.
Attend via Zoom’s cloud meeting service, beginning at 1:00. Please click this link to join the meeting and use passcode 794756, or enter meeting ID 948 9296 8399 in the Zoom app and use the above passcode.
By John Olsen and Edward Marion,
Photography Club Coordinators
Marie Joabar will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Photography Club, starting at 9:30 Friday, June 11. She will present tips and techniques for capturing the moon, snow scenes, waterfalls, and fireworks displays.
Marie has been immersed in photography and photography education for more than 20 years and is passionate about sharing her knowledge about photography, cameras, and digital technology with others. She finds just the right way to take complicated concepts and explain them in a logical, easy-to-understand way.
Marie founded Capital Photography Center in January 2012 to offer a range of photography classes taught by professional photographers and photographic educators.
In addition to running her business and teaching, Marie finds time to enjoy her own photography. Among her favorite subjects are people, both candid and posed; and country and city landscapes. Her work can be viewed on her website at www.mariejoabar.com.
Originally from Michigan, Marie has lived in Alexandria, Virginia, for the past 30+ years with her husband.
Can You Help the Development Committee Find Grants?
By Angela Talaber, Development Committee Co-chair
The OLLI Development Committee recently met to plan a strategy for obtaining funds to help OLLI realize a hybrid program that will carry us into the future. One option is for OLLI to apply for grants from community-oriented partners.
Grants are highly competitive and, as such, much time and preparation is required to find grant opportunities, plan a project, and then develop a proposal. I am hoping that in our diverse membership there are members who have had grant experience and would be willing to assist OLLI in this effort. If you are that person, please contact Angie Talaber at talaber@comcast.net.
Share Your Family History with Mason Students!
By Camille Hodges, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Current Events Program Planning Group Co-Chair
We are happy to welcome Dr. Spencer Crew back to the Mason campus following his leave of absence working as the Interim Head of the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). He is currently looking for 10 OLLI members to participate in his fall 2021 course, “History of the Family.” This will involve being interviewed by Mason students in his course, which will be in session from September to December. OLLI members who previously participated in this intergenerational exchange described sharing their family history with Mason students as a personally rewarding experience. The class is currently scheduled to meet virtually on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30-11:45. However, you will not be required to meet with students every week.
If you are interested in participating or want more details, please contact Dr. Crew at srcrew@gmu.edu.
Virtual Performances
Although Mason’s campus is shut down, online entertainment continues for us to access and enjoy. Dr. Linda Apple Monson produces a periodic “Notes from the Director.” This email is full of interesting online performances by the students and faculty of the School of Music. If you would like to receive these bulletins, just send an email to Brianna Schoen atbschoen@gmu.edu. Also, the Center for the Arts has a websiteMason Arts at Home, which has a calendar of online events and access to many past performances. Information can also be found atCFA ticket purchase page,Center for the Arts YouTube Channel,or theHylton ticket purchase page.
Please note: Physical meetings for clubs and activities are canceled until further notice in accordance with Mason’s guidelines. OLLI is conducting its classes and activities online. Refer to the university's coronavirus website for official university updates and check the OLLI calendar for revised information.
The following list covering the next two weeks is extracted for your convenience from the master online calendar maintained by the office. The list is accurate as of mid-week but for the most up-to-date information, please view the latest forecast of coming events on our website (News/OLLI Calendar). Note: All OLLI members are welcome at, and encouraged to attend, meetings of the Board of Directors, committees and resource groups, kick-off coffees, etc. (bolded below). The OLLI office has sent (or will send) emails with links and meeting passwords to club members; you may also log in at the member portal and click on ZOOM CLASS LINKS.
Sat Jun 5
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 7
8:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Poetry Club
Tue Jun 8
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art Loudoun Program Planning Group Meeting
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 9
10:30 am
2:00 pm
Tom Crooker Investment Forum Finance Committee Meeting
Thu Jun 10
9:30 am
11:50 am
4:00 pm
4:30 pm
Coffee Klatch
All the News Science, Technology & Health Program Planning Group Meeting Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 11
9:30 am
9:30 am
11:00 am
11:30 am
Photography Club
Craft and Conversation
Homer, Etc.
Cooking Club
Sat Jun 12
10:30 am
Tai Chi Club
Mon Jun 14
8:30 am
9:30 am
Gentle Yoga Club
What’s in the Daily News?
Tue Jun 15
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
4:30 pm
Annex Art Reston Program Planning Group Meeting
Spanish Club
Tai Chi Club
Wed Jun 16
10:00 am
10:30 am
2:00 pm
Mah Jongg Club
Tom Crooker Investment Forum
Memoir and More Writing Group
Thu Jun 17
10:00 am
11:50 am
4:30 pm
Humanities, Social Sciences, & Current Events Program Planning Group Meeting
All the News
Tai Chi Club
Fri Jun 18
9:30 am
10:00 am
11:00 am
Craft and Conversation Board of Directors Meeting
Homer, Etc.
Chief Editor: Paul Van Hemel
Associate Editor: David Gundry
Weekly Editor Team: David Gundry, John Nash, Sheri Siesseger, Paul Van Hemel Proofreaders: Rebecca Jann, Susan Van Hemel, Tom Appich, Roz Stark, Jane Hassell
Submissions: Members are encouraged to submit letters to the editor, letters to Ms. Ollie Ettakit (on etiquette matters), OLLI-related news items, articles, and photos. Submit material to: ollienewseditor@gmail.com. Deadline: Tuesday, 6:00, for that week's issue (Monday, 6:00, for letters to the editor); early submissions are greatly appreciated. Please limit articles to about 250 words. Search E-News: You can view past issues of OLLI E-News at ENews Archives. To search the content within issues, use Search or enter your search term(s) in Google followed by “site:ollidev2.earthcare.com/” without the quotes.
3rd Saturday, June 19 via Zoom
Marie Joabar will be the guest speaker at the next meeting of the Photography Club, starting at 9:30 Friday, June 11. She will present tips and techniques for capturing the moon, snow scenes, waterfalls, and fireworks displays.
